ALA Council

As the chapter counselor from Idaho, first let me state that I support Nadia's draft and that the release from the Idaho Freedom Caucus comes from a far right group of legislators, several of them that represent voters from my own community. I personally found it disturbing and it gave me, as an Idahoan, a library director and a voter, more insight to the true nature of that group based on the language they used. 

While personally I believe we must push back against the rhetoric and personal attacks, you should know that is not always the message we are receiving from our lobbyists. And, when our state librarian is choosing her words, she is choosing them with full knowledge that this letter came directly from those holding the purse strings. Over the past several years these legislators have turned down millions in funds aimed at early childhood education and recently millions in federal dollars that would have benefited hungry children. If you are in a state where your legislators support your libraries, public education, early childhood education and higher education I envy you. But please know, in some states that is not the case. Our state librarian, and I suspect the Montana state librarian, are attempting to walk the fine line between politics and library core values in order to keep their institutions intact.

Please do not interpret my email as justification for anyone's actions, but simply as a description of the intersection of politics and providing library services in some western states.

I do agree that supporting all state librarians through COSLA would be very beneficial as Ed mentioned. 

While I don't want us to trip up the behind-the-scenes efforts of those fighting for funding and intellectual freedom, or hurt quieter efforts/relationships in that work, I'm trying to decide what structure is best. State Libraries are bodies of government. When I chaired the Commission in Iowa, I may not have found it appropriate to direct the work of my professional associations from that position of power and authority. I also may have benefitted from my professional association(s) stating our values, ethics, and upholding the first amendment without involving me in the process as it would keep the divisions between my roles quite clear and distinct. 

Additionally, we are aware of political movements throughout the nation to intentionally position those with antithetical ideals into roles of power: library board members, city council members, state department and agency directors, regents, deans, etc. Should we permit those roles to have authority over the work of our association - particularly if they are government employees and potential detractors of our core values?